Missy Elliott becomes first rapper to receive honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music

Missy Elliott is seen at the Berklee College of Music 2019 Commencement ceremony at Agganis Arena at Boston University on May 11 in Boston, Massachusetts. More than 1,100 students graduated in all and receiving honorary degrees were Missy Elliott, Justin Timberlake and Alex Lacamoire. (Paul Marotta/Getty Images for Berklee)

“Dr. Missy” has a nice ring to it.

Melissa “Missy” Elliott and Justin Timberlake received honorary doctorates on Saturday for their lasting contributions to music and pop culture.

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The two chart-topping icons joined Tony Award winning “Hamilton” arranger Alex Lacamoire and over 1,000 graduates from 67 countries and 47 U.S. states who received degrees at Berklee College of Music’s 2019 commencement.

According to the prestigious performing arts conservatory, Elliott is the first hip-hop artist to receive Berklee’s honorary doctorate.

Missy Elliott is seen at the Berklee College of Music 2019 Commencement ceremony on Saturday. (Paul Marotta/Getty Images for Berklee)

“There will be ups and downs—prepare for that,” Elliott said in her remarks to the graduating class.

“As long as you are breathing, it is never too late. Don’t forget that. You have come too far to quit,” the “Work It” lyricist said after recounting some of the hardships she’s had in her professional and personal endeavors.

Since her breakout debut 1997 opus, “Supa Dupa Fly,” Elliott has been trailblazing rapper, singer, songwriter and producer whose collaborated with some of the biggest names in music, from Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston and Mary J. Blige to Ciara, Beyonce and most recently Lizzo.

A post shared by Missy Elliott (@missymisdemeanorelliott) on May 11, 2019 at 11:20am PDT

Lacamoire, a 1995 graduate of the college, delivered the commencement at Agganis Arena, where -- on Friday -- some of the college’s accomplished students paid tribute to the honorees by performing their music, including Elliott’s “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” and “Get Ur Freak On,” songs from “Hamilton” and “Dear Evan Hansen” originally arranged by Lacamoire, and Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River” and “Rock Your Body.”

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The former *NSync frontman sang on “Can’t Stop the Feeling!" and all three honorees joined the students on stage during the concert’s finale.

Past recipients include Duke Ellington (the first, in 1971), George Clinton, Plácido Domingo, Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gillespie, Carole King, Alison Krauss, Annie Lennox, Rita Moreno, Willie Nelson, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, and Esperanza Spalding, who graduated from the school in 2005 and late became one of the youngest instructors in its history.